kellsdad

I had this happen on a 1963 Pontiac ages ago. All I recall was that the engine abruptly started running poorly and the transmission started acting up at about the same time.

MikeM

I thought you had the WCFB on the engine? NO?

Frankie the Fink

People like that gall me no end. They fleece car owner's and treat them like they're idiots. Met more than a few of those types in my time.

The new carb looks good, I just hope this mechanic didn't cost you a head gasket (or worse)...

Easy Rhino

This.

And do not let this idiot work on your car again. He's clueless.

Westlotorn

I would follow Mikes advice and find your problem.

Hollywoodheroes

Hey Mike..

I let the jackass talk me into an Edlebrock and electric choke...

Actually to be more specific.. I didnt call for a couple of days and when I got there, he had already stuck them on my car!

I really hate myself for letting it get this bad.. but I swear, never again!

Jordan

MikeM

When your car is acting up, pull the air cleaner lid and see if the choke is open.

The Edelbrock carb takes a different intake manifold than the WCFB. How did he manage around that?

AZDoug

I had a new out of box Edelbrock carb once that had something stuck in the inlet seat keeping it open. Flooded the engine and was enough gas in the cylinder to pop the head gasket.

Doug

GTOguy

I suspect that the guy who changed the carb also changed the intake manifold, and it's sucking coolant through the intake due to a bad install. The intake has to be pulled off to remove the heads, anyway, if that's not it.

MikeM

That is where I was going but was waiting to hear a reply from the OP.

Frankie the Fink

Might well be the case

Westlotorn

I think you nailed it.

Hollywoodheroes

Will let you know as soon as I get the car in... I am swamped with the New York Comic Con next week, which is what I do for a living. Probably get the car in second week of Oct.

Until then, Im not going to screw with it anymore. I tried to start it today.. and white smoke filled the entire garage. It sputtered hard for like one second and died.

I'm just going to leave it and take it into my new guy have the new carb stuck on... and find out whats going on.

Also, going to have him stick on a new fuel pump.. since I read in the tech manual they did an upgrade on early 64s with air.. like mine.

Will keep you all updated !

Jordan

Hollywoodheroes

I truly hope thats all it is.

As I mentioned earlier.. this guy had two young kids working on classic cars while he sat in his office and chain smoked.

What really kills me is that as I was taking my car back... a guy came in with a 63 silver convertible.. asking him to install an entirely new interior and top.

I shutter to think what he is going to do to that car.

Jordan

reno stallion

Did you check the mileage when you dropped it off? Twenty year olds working on it!! Sounds like they ran the **** out of it on there test ride. check the back quarters for rubber

Hollywoodheroes

Yeah I did...

I did notice he filled the tank up a bit, saying he took it out for a test run.

I dont mind people driving my cars.. I think its the only way they can truly figure out whats wrong with them. But... I DO MIND getting them back broken.

I used to a vintage Mercedes 280sl, fully restored. Got it back from the mechanic one time to find cigarette butts in the ashtray ( which was never used and new)...

I asked him about it.. and he said he was test driving the car and had a smoke.

I flipped my **** on him...

J

MikeM

I mentioned many posts back that the intake manifold could have a crack in it. It could be cracked between the front water passage and an intake runner and sucking coolant. That's why I asked if your guy changed the manifold which he would have had to do unless he used some kind of adaptor. This could explain the white smoke that you didn't have before the carb swap. This is also why I suggested you check the spark plug appearance.

I've seen manifolds leak coolant out the top and out the front. Never seen one leak into the intake passage due to poor installation. Never seen changing a carb cause an engine to blow a head gasket and never seen a blown head gasket cause an engine to stall either but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

I wouldn't replace the fuel pump "just because". Many posts here claim some replacements are not reliable. If your old one is working, I'd keep it.

Hollywoodheroes

To be honest.. the white smoke appeared really just this weekend. It was after I left the car sit after not driving it for two weeks. Between the white smoke and the oil leak under car... something went wrong.

I climbed under the car and car see oil dripping from the bottom of the engine.. so I am wondering it its dripping from higher up, and then trickling down.

J

jimh_1962

Pull the carb of and find out what they did. That should only take about 10 minutes to do. I bet the gasket is all messed up. At least it will show you if you have a problem.

Find another shop if you do not want to work on it or cannot do the work. Talk to some of the local clubs and find out who can do the work right. Are you sure its white smoke? Could be oil hitting the exhaust pipes burning off.

MikeM

Very good possibility. Especially if they changed the manifold. Wonder why he won't tell us if they did?

That could also explain the oil drip.